In My Mailbox #5

Remember to check out  my $25 amazon gift card. 

Possible Three-Four winners.

Amazon gift card giveaway

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In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. 

IMM is basically a summary of what books I've gotten/received in the week of 12/10-12/261

So i've been a tad busy over the holidays leaving me no time to blog! 

So this is my IMM for the past two weeks. 

Received in Pic: Logic of Demons by H.A Goodman (For review, Thanks Mr. Goodman!)

Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry (Signed by the author! Excited to receive this one!)

ARC of The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (This one was a surprise, I really didn't expect this one in the mail but looks great)

Perfect by Natasha Friend (From a friend)

Bought:

    

Another surprise came in last week as well.
A "I love vampires" book lamp! Its so adorable! Fits right in the palm of your hand!
 Thanks Nocturnal Bites! <3

So what did you guys receive in your mailbox? What was your favorite Christmas gift that you received? Mines probably was the face of my siblings when they opened the gifts I got them! (I'm pretty cheesy)

So, it's finally snowing up here in NY! I know we're really late on this but nevertheless, its beautiful! I hear its going to be 16 inches so tomorrow I know what i'm doing!
 Sleeping. 
Happy Holidays!

Last Sacrifice Winners!

So first, i'm sorry for not posting. The holidays are here and well it's busy in New York! So now onto the winners.

After counting all the entries and using random.org the winners are

Andrea/Purplg8r and Aik Chen! 

I hope you guys enjoy the books. I know I LOVED it.

The winners are notified and have 3 days to respond or i'll pick a new winner.

So I hope you guys have a great holiday break! Remember, the Amazon Gift Card giveaway is still open! 

Vampire Diaries & Emily The Strange

Are you a big fan of Emily The Strange or The Vampire Diaries series? Well now you can read the WHOLE book for free at  Harper Teen. Well to be more specific you can read

Emily The Strange: The Lost Days 

AND 

The  Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L.J Smith

So go here for more for full access for both these books.

To be honest, I haven't read The Vampire Diaries. But now that i'm looking more into the book and what it's about I think I might give it a go. Plus who doesn't love some romance and paranormal books?

Blog Hop (3) + Follow Friday (2)

Remember to check out my Last Sacrifice Giveaway and my $25 amazon gift card. 

Possible Three-Four winners.

Amazon and Last Sacrifice Giveaway 

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Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books

This week's question comes from Alex who blogs at Geek on the Brink:

 "What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"

My answer:

Definitely the characters. I've seen many overused plots many times but what makes them different from each other is the characters. The characters are what define the plot and bring in the reader.The plot can be amazing and unique but unless they it has awesome characters then it's no story at all. Sure the plot is what brings you in the book when reading the synopsis but it's the characters that make you stay.

Plus great characters and a little chemistry between them=my addiction

Follow Friday is a meme hosted at Parajunkee's View What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

I am not in college yet. Still in high school so i'm unable to answer this but I know I want to become a teacher when I do attend college so thats a main priority. I'm also thinking about becoming a writer. And a sky diver. Heck I want to be a Author/teacher/blogger/ASTRONAUT.

 As they say, dream big start small.

If your here from the hop(s) feel free to comment/follow and i'll be sure to do the same! Also remember to check out my Last Sacrifice and $25 Amazon Gift Card giveaway!

Review:(ARC) Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

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Title- Falling Under

Author- Gwen Hayes

Publisher-New American Library
Want to read an excerpt? Read the first chapter here! I liked the first chapter a lot. Started with a BANG!

"Up is down and down is up"- repetitious quote in book

Synopsis-

      Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.                                                                                                                         As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.                                                            And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

So I had really high hopes for this book. The book kept me reading but I really did not find anything that stood out in this book that made me want to go look up if theres a sequel to it (there will be). Lets just say It kept me entertained for a while.

First, as a couple of reviewers have said, the books starts off a little slow.To me the story picked up and got a little more interesting around chapter 18 and there's a total of 26 chapters so that says a lot. Actually to be more specific, it picked up when they went into the world of 'Under'. Not going to say much about that.

The MC, Theia, was raised by a strict father and is portrayed as someone who is independent and rational.Basically more mature than those around her. So how come almost ALL of the decisions she makes in the story are irrational and stupid? Yeah, love blinds you, blagh blagh but seriously? She meets this guy from her dream in real life and the second she sees him she goes gaga. Of course this was obvious from the synopsis but she doesn't even know him yet she feels more attracted to him. From the synopsis it even states she's willing to 'give up her soul' to be with him. What kind of rational character does that? In the book she certainly has given up her common sense might as well give up her soul while shes at it.

Haden on the other hand has his own agenda. He is there for another reason but he soon begins to feel something for Theia to the point where he is teasing her and then pushing her away. Claiming that if they touch then terrible things would happen like global warming. Oh wait that already exists
 So then they touch. And as Laura would put it
""Imagine my disappointment when they to do finally touch and their heads don’t explode and the world doesn’t collapse in upon itself" 
This is exactly how I felt. If you could only read how many times Haden told a horny desperate confused Theia they couldn't touch because 'bad things would happen'. It pissed me off. I expected him to eat her or something. That would have made the story more believable. Other than that Haden didn't really have much of a personality in my opinion but was much better and bearable than Theia. 

Usually I don't like to compare books but this one had a few scenes where I automatically thought 'Twilight'. In one instance is where Haden refers to Theia as 'little lamb'.  There are other scenes but i'm not going to get into it. I just couldn't enjoy this book as others did.

The plot was unique and original. I really liked the concept of 'stranger in my dreams coming out in real life'. It has some original twists but the whole thing was predictable and didn't really surprise me as he revealed what he was. The characters were flat and I just couldn't get into it at all. 


I would recommend this book when it comes out and it's in the library. Maybe it's just me but I couldn't get into it. 


Rating- 2/5 (goodreads) 


Laura at Read Between The Lines also reviewed Falling under. To check out the review go here

In My Mailbox #4

Remember to check out my Last Sacrifice Giveaway and my $25 amazon gift card. 

Possible Three-Four winners.

Amazon and Last Sacrifice Giveaway 

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In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. 

IMM is basically a summary of what books I've gotten/received in the week of 12/4-12/10!

I didn't get anything this week through the mail except for a poster. 

My debate buddy sent it and she knew how much I love these guys! <3

It looks like this

Bought

Library-

I'm actually waiting to read Last Sacrifice till I get a chance to reread all the other books.
That way it's better and I can enjoy the stories better.
Currently reading Nightshade and it's a bit weird but i'm only just starting.

Have you read any of these books? If so what was your opinion? 

Last Sacrifice Giveaway+Amazon Gift Card

So yesterday was a special day!

Why?

I saved a life! How? By Donating blood!

 Huh? That's not what you were thinking? 

Oh, thats right! LAST SACRIFICE CAME OUT YESTERDAY!

The anticipated book of 2010 has finally been released! The final book of The Vampire Academy series is coming to a end at last! 

I know, it saddens me too! But don't fret, Richelle Mead has announced a new series.

 One with the characters we've come to know and love!

More info on it is to be announced

So now for the giveaway!

Not only am I celebrating the release of Vampire Academy I am also excited to announce that I am over 50 Followers! So this giveaway is more of a way to thank each and every one of you! It means so much to me that anyone even took an interest to my blog and I just really appreciate you guys!

So as my way of saying thanks I am hosting TWO giveaways (Two seperate posts for each giveaway. Link to amazon giveaway here.)

TWO lucky followers will be able to receive a copy of Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead! 

Who wouldn't want this beauty?

• This Giveaway is open to US & Canada Addresses only (Don't worry International followers, the other giveaway is suited for you)
• Must follow blog in order to participate
• Giveaway ends December 25, 2010. 

Also, I am in need of a banner and button for my blog so here's extra entries for you creative people! If your good at photoshop/gimp/etc and if you can create a button and banner for me you get +5 entries in one of the giveaways or even both! Email me at ramblingchick@gmail.com to find out the details of the banner and button. I would really appreciate if you could help me out here! :>

Bonus Entries: 

+3 for leaving a comment on this post on what your favorite part of christmas is

+5 for creating a button or banner for me (email me)

+2 for following me on twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/BookKritik)  

+2 for making a blog post on this giveaway 

+2 for sharing on side bar 

+2 for tweeting 

+2 for anywhere else you share

Fill out form HERE

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

For this giveaway i'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

One Lucky follower (International too) will be able to win this. But wait, there's more.

If I get 150 followers before the end of this giveaway I'll throw in a $15 amazon gift card! 

• Must follow this blog to participate
• Giveaway ends January 15, 2011.

Also, I am in need of a banner and button for my blog so here's extra entries for you creative people! If your good at photoshop/gimp/etc and if you can create a button and banner for me you get +5 entries in one of the giveaways or even both! Email me at ramblingchick@gmail.com to find out the details of the banner and button. I would really appreciate if you could help me out here! :>

Bonus Entries:

+3 for leaving a comment on this post on what your favorite part of christmas is

+5 for creating a button or banner for me (email me)

+2 for following me on twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/BookKritik)  

+2 for making a blog post on this giveaway 

+2 for sharing on side bar

+2 for tweeting

+2 for anywhere else you share

Fill out form here.

That Song In your Head

That Song In Your Head is basically that awesome/annoying song that just won't leave your head. We've all been there.

Today was a weird day. I've had more than one band stuck in my head, leaving me distracted from doing my daily chores (curse you catchy tunes!)

So today I'm bringing i'm sharing the three songs that have plagued my brain!

First Up, OneRepublic -

Ever since I heard them i've been mesmerized by their songs and love them!

One song of theirs is currently stuck in my head and well what better way to to share the song than with you guys!

Plus, the video is great and BEA-U-TI-FUL.

Next Up, Muse-

Don't Know Muse? MUSE?
Muse is my number ONE band. I love their songs and I get sucked into the lyrics every time I hear them!
Now this particular song is in my top 10 favorite songs and has had me jamming and jumping to it all day.
Th video isn't that great so I'd recommend closing your eyes while listening to it.
Much more better.

Finally we have Katy Perry

Now I enjoy listening to Katy. Not my favorite singer but this video made me more of a fan than before.

Plus, the song is really cute and the video is just so BEAUTIFUL! 

So what song is stuck in your head? Anyone can join! Just make a post in your blog sharing what song is stuck in your head or just leave a comment! I love listening and finding new songs!

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. 

IMM is basically a summary of what books I've gotten/received in the week of 11/27-12/4!

So i'm first still reading Angelfire (couple chapters till the end) so i'm sorry for holding off on the review! But I can guarantee that the book is a great read!  I'll make the review extra juicy!

So what's my IMM this week?

  

(The 'Her Angel' series has contains mature content. Not suitable for people under 18)

So thanks to the author of Her Angel series, Felicity Heaton AND fellow blogger Bookin it Along for the three e-books! 

I also finally got my first and ever hardcopy ARC! I'm super excited and when I found this beauty in the mail I practically choked on my hot chocolate! (Was NOT a pretty sight)

Pay no mind to the creepy girl behind the sexy book

I'll certainly treasure this beauty! I'll review it in the near future, especially because it'd help me out in some of the challenges and this book seems like a REALLY good read from what i've read in reviews (Trying so hard to restrain myself from reading!)

Heres the Synopsis for Falling Under:

"Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.
As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.
And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul."

I can't wait to start this one!

Other books I received:

Watchmen was given by a friend of mine

City Of Glass was taken from the library (I'm loving this series)

Fallen (Bought)

So that's all! Fell free to share your IMM in the comment section below! I love checking out others IMM!

So what book are you eagerly waiting to get this week?

 Whether it's from the library, store or even a from friend.

(I'm waiting for Last Sacrifice! I'm really eager for Richelle to come to NY to get Last Sacrifice and get it signed! I'll be giving out Last Sacrifice and perhaps signed too!)

Into the World Reading Challenge!

So I'm taking up another challenge! (It'll be the last on for now!)

Basically It's to read any books before 2009!

Hosts : Splash of Our Worlds and My Love Affair With Books

Starts: 1st January 2011

Ends: 31st December 2011

My list of books are:

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

Vampirates - Justin Somper

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stied Larsson

The Time's Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffegger

House Of Night - Cast

That's it for now. I know ill read more book so i'll add them to this list when I read them!

Follow Friday + Blog Hop

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

What do you do besides reading / reviewing as a hobby??

I do Tae Kwon Do after School. I really love it and it's my second favorite hobby! I joined approximately 3-4 years ago and ever since I fell in love. At first I was reluctant (I used to be afraid of everything!) until my mom forced me and I came to learn how to defend myself. Plus it really helps you out in dangerous situations.

I live in New York so Crime isn't uncommon here. One time when coming home at night I was alone and I knew somebody was following me. It turned out that the guy tried to grab my purse but to his surprise I kicked him where the sun don't shine and punched him. So I'm really grateful for not getting harmed that day.

Plus Tae practice is just a blast.

This is pretty much what happens most of the time...

Currently i'm a Red belt with Black Stripe (One stripe away from Black!)

So I guess one would refer to me as a 'Kick Ass Nerd' (too corny?)

My second Blog Hop!

This week's question comes from Marce who blogs at Tea Time With Marce:

 "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

Well I don't really know how to answer this one. I just recently started blogging so reviewing a book I didn't enjoy wasn't much of a problem. Plus as I have said before, I have a higher threshold than most people and even if a book REALLY is horrible, i'd probably get something out of it. 

On other subjects-

Tomorrow I am posting my review for Angelfire so that should be interesting.

And next week i'll be holding my first giveaway! I'll be giving away a $30-40 amazon gift card! More details to come later! (It'll be US only and only to followers) 

I'm also thinking of adding a Last Sacrifice Giveaway! Richelle is coming to New York so i'll probably get copies signed! Not sure if anyone would be interested but if so then leave a comment and i'll see how many copies to get signed for the giveaway.

Mama's Holiday Wish list Giveaway!

Todays Mama is hosting a really HUGE giveaway! She's teamed up with GameStop to give away an 

XBOX 360 250 GB with Kinect, a Nintendo Red Wii Bundle, Nintendo Red DSi XL Bundles, plus a ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR Gamestop gift card.  Awesome, right? 

(I really need a new DS mines broke apart haha)

So how do you enter this giveaway? Go here

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? My holiday wish is for my family to get together again. We've been having some issues and a divorce recently occurred. It kinda hurts to see my siblings affected by the divorce so I just want my parents to get together for at last this one day. 

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?

Our tradition is to stay up on christmas eve and at twelve we eat dinner. After we're done we go back to Christmas tree and "somehow" the gifts "magically" appear under the tree. 

We don't really do the Christmas Morning thing.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

I guess i'd want Santa to give me a scholarship for college. Seriously. Others want toys, video games and all that but I just want me some money for college. But I guess what I want after that would be the Iphone 

4

Look at the thing, ti's BEA-U-TI-FULL.

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

Well we just need a good warm dinner, tree and our family. Were THAT type of family. We actually did three Christmases without gifts and it was still as great as the other ones. 

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

A game we grew up playing? I don't think we ever really had a game. If it's Christmas wise, the game we play requires us to purchase this 'bread' and in the bread are three little white figurines. Whoever gets the figurine has to do the chores for a month. It's a tradition. 

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

See the answer of the question above for this.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?

I would go to Mexico. It is BEAUTIFUL there during Christmas. I went there once and it was brilliant and the people were so friendly too! I live in New York so I know how flashy it gets over here but New York is just a speck of Light to what Mexico has. The food there is so great too and well Christmas without the snow is just so much better to me! 

8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?

1. Xbox 360 (I dont really care for the Kinect) 

2.   A DSi for the one I broke!

3. And finally a PSP. My brother has been asking for one for three years now and I guess this year I want to get it for him!

So that's it! Go to her blog right here to learn more about this!